What’s the Main idea? Created by TEACHERS UNLEASHED Students will learn to identify the main idea in simple narrative and expository paragraphs! Created by TEACHERS UNLEASHED

in a paragraph are about. It’s the point that the author How do I know What the Main idea is? The main idea is… what all the sentences in a paragraph are about. It’s the point that the author is trying to make…

Quiz Time! Take out a piece of paper and number it from 1-9. Then, read the paragraphs that follow and ask yourself… What is the main idea? What point is the writer trying to make?

Directions Write down what you think the correct answer to each question is. Then, click the mouse or space bar again and see if you were right! Keep track of how you do and give yourself a score out of 9 at the end.

Get Your paper ready! Then…GO!

1. What’s the Main idea? Joe loves to play games. His favorite game is chess because it requires a great deal of thought. Joe also likes to play less demanding board games that are based mostly on luck. He prefers Monopoly because it requires luck and skill. If he’s alone, Joe likes to play action video games as long as they aren’t too violent. What is the main idea of this paragraph? a. Joe dislikes violence. b. Joe likes to think. c. Joe enjoys Monopoly. d. Joe enjoys playing games

2. What’s the Main idea? Maria is watching too much television. A toddler shouldn’t be spending hours staring blankly at a screen. Worse yet, some of her wild behavior has been inspired by those awful cartoons she watches. We need to spend more time reading books with her and pull the plug on the TV! What is the main idea of this paragraph? a. Watching a lot of television isn’t good for Maria. b. Books are good. c. All cartoons are bad. d. Some cartoons are bad for Maria

3. What’s the Main idea? Stan, I can’t eat or sleep when you are gone. I need to hear your scratchy voice and see your lovely toothless smile. I miss that special way that you eat soup with your fingers. Please come home soon! What is the main idea of this paragraph? a. Stan, you have bad manners. b. Stan, you should see a dentist. c. Stan, I miss you. d. Stan, I have lost my appetite

4. What’s the Main idea? Someday we will all have robots that will be our personal servants. They will look and behave much like real humans. We will be able to talk to these mechanical helpers and they will be able to respond in kind. Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience. They will be smart, strong, and untiring workers whose only goal will be to make our lives easier. Which sentence from the paragraph expresses the main idea? a. Someday we will all have robots that will be our personal servants. b. We will be able to talk to these mechanical helpers and they will be able to respond in kind. c. They will look and behave much like real humans. d. Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience

5. What’s the Main idea? Benjamin Franklin loved to write. When he was twenty-two, he set up his own printing shop and started a newspaper. He also printed a book called Poor Richard’s Almanac. It had funny stories, information about the weather, and wise sayings. He wrote many books, which changed the way people saw the world. What is the main idea? a. Benjamin Franklin loved to write stories and books. b. Benjamin Franklin worked very hard when he was young.  c. Benjamin Franklin knew a lot about the weather.   d. Benjamin Franklin was very poor

6. What’s the Main idea? Benjamin Franklin was very interested in electricity. One day he tried a very dangerous experiment to prove that lightning was electricity. He attached a key to a kite string and flew the kite during a thunderstorm. When the lightning hit the kite, sparks flew from the key. Benjamin Franklin proved that lightning was electricity. What is the main idea? a. Benjamin Franklin liked to play in the rain. b. Benjamin Franklin performed an experiment that proved lightning was electricity.  c.  Benjamin Franklin knew a lot about thunderstorms.    d. Benjamin Franklin invented a new kind of kite.

7. What’s the Main idea?  Floods can cause tremendous damage.  They can ruin houses, roads and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides. It often leaves mud, sand and debris behind.  It can take months to clean up after a flood. What is the main idea? a. Floods can cause a lot of damage. b. Floods cause mudslides. c.  Floods damage houses and roads. d. Floods are totally cool!

8. What’s the Main idea? School is and important place. At school you learn many different things. Students learn math, reading, and much more in the classroom. Outside of the classroom, students learn how to make friends, and have fun at recess. Lunch time is always a good time to hang out with friends and relax from all the learning. School is a great place to learn, make friends, and have a good time. What is the main idea? a. School is the place to make friends. b. School is awesome! c.  School is an important place to learn and make friends. d. Lunch time is so relaxing.

9. What’s the Main idea? Dogs can be an excellent pets. They are good at fetching, playing, doing tricks and much more. Most dogs like to do tricks for treats. They like to lick your face when they are happy, and snuggle with you on the couch. Dogs sniff the ground a lot because they have a great sense of smell. Most people have dogs as pets because they are safe and loveable. What is the main idea? a. Dogs like to smell a lot. b. Dogs lick your face when they are happy. c. Most people love dogs. d. Dogs make very good pets.

Be sure to turn in your quiz paper with your final score on it! The End! How did you do? Be sure to turn in your quiz paper with your final score on it!